Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Angus Rowntree will miss the rest of the season after seriously injuring his knee against South Adelaide on Saturday.

Scans this morning have revealed the strongly-built Eagle has torn the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee after attempting to change direction at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval.

‘’It just looked like a classic ACL injury when you go to pivot on your leg and then it collapses in a bit,’’ Eagles football manager Trent Hentschel said.

‘’He’s an upbeat guy all the time so he was fine after the game but I don’t think the reality of it hits you for a day or two or until you hear it from the surgeon.’’

The loss of last year’s best-and-fairest is a significant blow for the Eagles; with star forward Adam Grocke (Achilles) also unavailable for the major round.

‘’He starts a lot of the play as he is just so good in and under,’’ Hentschel said of Rowntree.

‘’And he was just coming into some really good form so it is disappointing for him individually while also being a big loss for the team.’’

Rowntree’s absence will create a significant opportunity in September, with South Australia’s Under-18 captain – Luke Dunstan – shaping as a readymade replacement at league level.

‘’We’ve had Luke Dunstan, Tom Schwarz, Caleb Lloyd and Matty Appleton all roll through there (midfield) in the last couple of weeks so it will just mean some of those young boys will have to take on more of the load,’’ Hentschel said.

Appleton, who left the ground on Saturday after a heavy knock to the head from Panthers ruckman Daniel Bass, is a chance to confront North Adelaide at Prospect on Saturday.

‘’He will go through all the concussion tests and we will find out later in the week if he will be available,’’ Hentschel said.

‘’He was fin after the game; he just got a cut on his forehead. I would say in all likelihood he will be playing this week.’’

Eagles forward Andrew Ainger, who has sprained the AC-joint in his shoulder, will undergo a fitness test to determine his availability for the clash with the Roosters.

In some good news for the Eagles, Byron Sumner will return in Round 20 after serving his two-week suspension for striking Sturt’s Michael Coad.

The SANFL Incident Review Panel has recorded no reports from Round 19.

Glenelg forward Josh Trembath won’t play again in 2013 after breaking his leg while training on Saturday.

The Tigers’ spearhead fractured his fibula during a competitive drill with Bays defender Max Proud.